RESEARCH

LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY - CAVITE
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, COMPUTER STUDIES, AND ARCHITECTURE
UPDATED PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ([PDP], 2017 – 2022) OF

NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NEDA)
PREPARED BY:
JECIEL, MARIELLE
SECTION:
ARCH 402
INSTRUCTOR:
AR. MALINAWAN MARTIN
SUBJECT:
ARPP03 - PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 3
GLOBAL PRACTICE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
February 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2017 – 2022) STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK…………………………………………….4
THE PHYSICAL COMPONENT……………………………………………………………………………………………………….5
OVERLAY OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS, AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS…….5
THE NATIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY………………………………..………………………………………….5
NETWORK OF SETTLEMENTS……………………………..…………………………………………………….6
FUNCTION OF CENTERS…………………………………….…………………………………………………...8
REGIONAL AGGLOMERATION………………………………..………………………………………………….9
CONNECTIVITY……………………………………..…………………………………………………………..…10
REDUCTION OF VULNERABILITY………………………………………………………………………………11
BUILDING SAFE. RESILIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES…………………………………………..…..12
ASSESSMENT AND CHALLENGES..………………………………..………………………………………….12
TARGETS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...12
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK………………………………………………………………………………………13
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA…………………………………………………………………………………………..16
ACCELERATING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT………………………………………………………..…….17
TARGETS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...18
ENSURING ECOLOGICAL, CLEAN, AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT……………………………………………..24
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………31
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OVERVIEW
“The long-term vision remains the same and has become even more pronounced with the emergence
of new threats.”
Every Filipino aspires to enjoy a “matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay.” This is AmBisyon Natin 2040.
Sensitive to these aspirations, the Duterte administration has embraced the mission to enable and empower every Filipino
to achieve his or her AmBisyon. The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 has been formulated to lay down the
foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust and resilient society, and a globally competitive knowledge economy. This
foundation is intended to be strong enough for the next three development plans to build on.
During the first three years, several needed reforms have been enacted. The reforms have been game-changing,
and the desired social and economic outcomes were achieved, even surpassing the targets at times. This primarily stems
from the conscious effort to include social protection components as part of the reform program. This was done to cushion
the expected adverse though temporary effects, thereby increasing support to the reform.
Almost four years in, the Philippines was on its way to becoming an upper-middleincome country, until the once-in-
a-century global pandemic, caused by COVID-19, struck. The immediate response was to save lives by first restricting
social and economic activities to limit the spread of the virus, while improving the country’s health system capacity.
The health system capacity has since been substantially improved. However, the social and economic restrictions
had adverse social and economic consequences. The challenge at hand is to muster, as quick as possible, an economic
turnaround. And much depends on being able to manage the risks and transition to the “new normal.”
Even at this time of COVID-19 global pandemic, the country has been benefitting from the reforms enacted and
already implemented (e.g., Rice Tariffication Law [RTL Law], Sin Tax Reform Law, Ease of Doing Business and Efficient
Government Service Delivery [EODB-EGSD] Act, Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion [TRAIN] Law, Telecommuting
Act, Social Security Act of 2018, Balik Scientist Act, etc.). A more accelerated timeline concerning the other reforms would
have substantially built up the country’s resilience (e.g., PhilSys Act, Universal Health Care [UHC] Act, Philippine Innovation
Act, entry of a third telecommunications provider, Free Internet in Public Spaces Act [PSA], etc.). This pandemic also lends
urgency to crucial reform initiatives that will encourage strategic industries to locate in the country (e.g., amendments to the
Foreign Investments Act [FIA], Public Service Act [PSA], Retail Trade Liberalization Act [RTLA], and the Corporate Recovery
and Tax Incentives for Enterprises [CREATE]). Over the immediate term, there is a need to address financial risk that may
have worsened because of the mobility restrictions imposed to contain COVID-19. The proposed Financial Institutions
Strategic Transfer (FIST) and Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic
Recovery (GUIDE) laws are designed to manage such risks.
We are 20 years away from 2040. While there seems to be ample time to catch up on the targets related to
AmBisyon, recent developments have shown that social and economic gains can easily be reversed. Hence, together with
economic recovery, building resilience is now the urgent and important development objective. Being resilient, after all, is
an essential component of the AmBisyon: having a secure future (panatag na buhay)
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STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
The PDP 2017-2022 strategic framework was updated to align it with the imperatives for recovery and the new and
better normal within the overall goal of a healthy and resilient Philippines. The strategies to achieve the abovementioned
targets fall under the three major pillars of Malasakit (building a high- trust society); Pagbabago (transforming towards equity
and resiliency); and Patuloy na Pag-unlad (increasing growth potential). There are crosscutting strategies to support the
other interventions, and bedrock strategies to provide a solid foundation for all strategies to work.
Figure 4.1 Updated Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 Strategic Framework
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THE PHYSICAL COMPONENT
- land use and the changes which occur within the physical environment represented by the Mater Development Plan.
PART I: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 3: OVERLAY OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, DEMOGRAPHIC
TRENDS, AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 incorporates a national spatial strategy (NSS) that sets the
direction of the physical development of the country. It promotes sustainable human settlements development, access to
social services, integration of leading and lagging regions, and building resilience. The health risk brought about by the
COVID-19 pandemic has given prominence to the need to improve living standards in cities and promote regional
development, ensure connectivity and safe mobility, and manage disaster risks—which are addressed to a large extent by
the NSS. As a planning framework, the NSS is complemented by more detailed sectoral plans such as those for transport
and other infrastructure, as well as master plans for specific metropolitan areas.
The complexity of development problems, policy agenda-setting, current institutional setups, and financial resource
availability and allocation are major challenges that need to be addressed. It is crucial that each government entity
understands and seriously takes on its role, with technical, managerial, and financial assistance from development partners,
in implementing the NSS to enable all Filipinos to enjoy comfortable and secure lives wherever they choose to locate.
Supporting regional agglomeration. The NSS seeks to decongest the National Capital Region (NCR) and direct
growth to regional centers where high growth potentials have greater chances of being realized sooner. In urban areas
where population and enterprises concentrate, the NSS will support agglomeration by making cities livable and efficient.
Strategies will thus aim to expand and improve social services, fast-track investments in transportation infrastructure, and
promote “smart city” principles in urban development.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also amplified other vulnerabilities of the current geospatial structure of cities. We
have seen the dangers of high population density, poor air quality, and lack of green spaces. During the lockdown, people
in the cities have become food-vulnerable, largely because of difficulty in access to food. These additional considerations
will be factored in enhancing the NSS.
Increasing connectivity. Increasing connectivity between production areas and market centers, and providing the missing
links for municipal/city, provincial, and national road networks are some of the goals under the NSS. The approved National
Transport Policy (NTP), which envisions a Philippine transport system that is “safe, secure, reliable, efficient, integrated,
intermodal, affordable, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and people-oriented,” will be an important instrument in
achieving this goal. The subsequent formulation of a transport system master plan will guide the rational development of an
intermodal transport network in the country.
Reducing vulnerability. Considering the climate change projections and threats of geologic hazard events, as well as
public health emergencies, the government will continue to invest in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change
adaptation (CCA) initiatives to reduce vulnerability to multiple hazards. Recent disaster and risk information generated by
science agencies and the evaluation of COVID-19 response will lay the groundwork for institutional and community-level
resilience for prospective optimality of result.
In the remaining years of the implementation of the updated PDP 2017-2022, the government will continue to pursue
the NSS to promote inclusive and sustainable growth and enable Filipinos to live comfortable lives wherever they choose
to locate.
THE NATIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY

The NSS aims to contribute to inclusive growth by improving physical connectivity and providing equal access to
quality social services across regions. It also seeks to decongest NCR and direct growth to key centers throughout the
country where the benefit of agglomeration can have greater potential of being realized. An overlay of the geographic
characteristics, population, and economic growth shows the areas where growth has been taking place and the
characteristics of these growth centers. This guides the identification and development of strategic solutions such as the
location of transportation linkages, high-quality urban services, as well as social development programs to improve the
quality of life of Filipinos.
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Implementing the NSS requires cooperation across national and local governments to ensure coherence of
development plans and efforts. The NSS also provides a basis for identifying more specific projects that can serve as the
catchment and market or service areas of the various centers. It can then be a reference for sectoral plans, spatial
development frameworks of Regional Development Plans (RDPs), provincial development and physical framework plans,
and Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) of cities and municipalities.
NETWORK OF SETTLEMENTS
The country has a three-tiered network of settlements: (a) metropolitan centers; (b) regional centers; and (c) sub-
regional centers. These centers form an efficient network of settlements with distinct functional roles contributing to the flow
of economic activities within the network.
Figure 3.6 Major Urban Centers
METROPOLITAN CENTERS. Metropolitan centers provide higher forms of economic services and facilities, including
innovation and advanced services, culture and tourism, education and research, transportation and trade, manufacturing,
and technology development.
Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao are the three major metropolitan centers in the country that serve as
centers of commercial, financial, and administrative activities. Metro Manila continues to function as the country’s premier
metropolitan center—the seat of the national administration and the center of commerce and trade. Metro Manila’s influence
to its adjacent cities and municipalities has become more evident with new and important developments in the past three
years. Notable of these is the New Clark City in Central Luzon, which is proposed to be a major business district with
complete facilities for offices, housing, and sports and leisure. Moreover, Executive Order (EO) No. 119, s. 2020 mandated
the establishment of the national government administrative center in Capas, Tarlac to serve as an integrated government
center outside of the NCR, and, in case of a disaster, a recovery center and back-up administrative center. It has the
locational advantage of being at the convergence points of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic–Clark–Tarlac
Expressway (SCTEX), Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo (GSO) road, the Manila-North Road, and the new North-South
Commuter Railway.
Second to NCR is Metro Cebu which serves as the natural economic, commercial, and logistics center for the
Visayas. The Metro Cebu Development and Coordination Board has completed its road map study for urban development
highlighting competitiveness, mobility, livability and metropolitan management. It has also identified its priority project
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packages such as the Mega Cebu expressway, Cebu bus rapid transit, the new Cebu international container port, the third
CebuMactan bridge, and coastal road.
The third metropolitan center is Metro Davao, which is a major international gateway and serves as Mindanao’s
premier commercial hub and center for education and health services. This role will be enhanced by the construction of the
first phase of the Mindanao Railway Project in the first quarter of 2021. Furthermore, the institutionalization of the Metro
Davao Development Authority will strengthen coordination among the component cities and municipalities in the planning,
implementation, and monitoring of priority projects.
By 2025, Metro Cagayan de Oro is expected to be the fourth metropolitan center. It currently functions as a major
gateway and transshipment hub and a key educational center in Northern Mindanao with potential growth of banana, rubber,
bamboo, cacao, coco coir, coffee, agribusiness, and tourism.
REGIONAL CENTERS. Regional centers serve as regional markets and service centers to several provinces. Markets can
support a range of services and investments and have direct linkages to metropolitan centers. They host government
administrative centers, industrial and commercial areas, and transportation and tourism hubs.
SUB-REGIONAL CENTERS. Sub-regional centers connect to, and serve as service centers of, smaller provincial and local
centers. Considering the network of settlements listed below, the Updated PDP 2017-2022 will continue to pursue regional
agglomeration, connectivity, and vulnerability reduction.
Table 3.3. Network of Settlements
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FUNCTIONS OF CENTERS
The metropolitan centers of NCR, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao provide domestic and international services and
facilities. Meanwhile, regional and subregional centers have distinct sizes, services, natural physical features, and strategic
locations that enable them to host certain activities or functions.
REGIONAL CENTERS
• Regional administrative centers: Baguio City, Tuguegarao City, San Fernando City (La Union), Calamba City,
Legazpi City, San Fernando City (Pampanga), Calapan City, Tacloban City, Iloilo City, Butuan City, Pagadian City,
and Koronadal City
• International gateways (examples): Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Metro Clark Area, Zamboanga City, Legazpi City,
Laoag City, Puerto Princesa City, and General Santos City
• Tourism hubs (examples): Legazpi City, Naga City, Calapan City, Puerto Princesa City, Laoag City, Tagbilaran
City, and Surigao City
SUB-REGIONAL CENTERS
• Tourism hub (examples): Alaminos City, Matnog, Malay, Kalibo, Jordan, and Tubigon
• Agri-industrial centers (examples): Midsayap, Mati, Cauayan City, Polomolok, Kidapawan City, Bislig, Tacurong
City, and Calbayog City
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• Industrial centers (examples): Biñan City, Sta. Rosa City, Lipa City, Tanauan City, San Carlos City, Iligan City,
Subic, and Mariveles
• Higher education (examples): Marawi City and Dumaguete City
REGIONAL AGGLOMERATION
Regional agglomeration aims to improve urban efficiencies and maximize the benefits of scale and agglomeration
economies. It recognizes the role of cities as engines of growth and sites of innovation. It will build on the current trends of
growth such as the faster growth in some regions. The spatial strategy aims to manage the growth of key centers in the
country for them to function more efficiently.
Manage the growth process through an integrated approach to urban planning. Cities face various urban challenges
such as congestion, pollution and waste, lack of green spaces, and increasing demand for social services including housing,
health, sanitation, and education. Addressing these requires an integrated approach to urban planning and development.
To this end, master plans have been formulated to address urban inefficiencies and guide sustainable urban development.
The Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas and the Urban
Transport Master Plan of Metro Cebu and the Davao City Infrastructure Development Plan and Capacity Building Project
(IM4Davao) in Metro Davao are being implemented to reduce traffic, enhance competitiveness, improve safety and disaster
response, and contribute to sustainable urban development of the areas covered.
Other master plans are now being formulated for 11 cities which will guide the preparation and implementation of
programs and projects for sustainable infrastructure development. These plans also adopt the smart city principle in urban
mobility, natural and built environment, sustainable energy, and economic competitiveness. The implementation of these
plans will require retooling of current government institutions and advancements in planning approaches and urban
management practices.
Pursue sustainable rural development and ensure better access to opportunities. The development gap between
urban and rural areas manifests in the lack of economic opportunities and access to social services and facilities including
health, education, and water and sanitation in the countryside. These are issues that the government needs to address to
ensure that no one is left behind, whether they live in urban or rural areas. Balancing regional development entails the
transformation of rural communities into productive agri-industrial or tourism areas with improved delivery of social services
including education, health, and housing.
With this in view, the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program was created through EO No. 114, s. 2020
to bring about a more equitable distribution of wealth, resources, and opportunities to the countryside. It involves the
convergence of national government and local government unit (LGU) programs and projects that will not merely bring back
people to the provinces but promote sustainable communities in the countryside.
Linking rural areas to urban areas physically through transportation systems or virtually through information and
communications technology (ICT) will enable people in rural areas to gain more access to alternative opportunities for
employment, and bigger markets for their products. Moreover, better connectivity will make it easier for people in rural areas
to have access to higher levels of services such as universities and specialized health institutions which may not be feasible
in smaller communities.
Increase investments and spending efficiency to expand and improve the quality of social services to meet growing
demand. Growth centers attract people seeking better opportunities and access to amenities. To meet growing demands
that come with continuous increase in population, the government will expand and improve facilities and provide additional
human resources in the sectors of housing, health, sanitation, and education. As centers of consumption, cities are also the
main producers of waste, hence, the need to promote waste reduction and management.
Fast-track investment in transport infrastructure and traffic management system to reduce congestion and ensure
mobility. The government will continue to fast-track investment in transportation infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion
and shorten distance and travel times between business and industrial centers, tourism areas, services, and residential
areas. The immediate remedial measures will be the enforcement of traffic laws, traffic management measures, and
transport demand management schemes. Application of intelligent transportation systems will also be explored to help
manage traffic flow in growth centers efficiently, minimize accidents, and provide transport and traffic information to
passengers and decision-makers.
Adopt “smart city” principles and increase technical, managerial, and financial capability of national and local
institutions to implement such. Improved urban environment and quality of life will be pursued through urban renewal
and urban redevelopment projects. The current pandemic has brought greater consciousness on urban development
designs and housing standards, considering that the greatest number of cases are in cities with higher population densities
and where physical distancing is a challenge. This does not necessarily invalidate the agglomeration strategy as co-location
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promotes efficiency in service delivery, land use, and urban development. However, the aspect of livability will be given
more emphasis by promoting healthier lifestyles, environmental consciousness, and sustainable urban design. The
government will pursue and apply “smart city” principles such as urban mobility to include cycling lanes and walking paths,
greener city, sustainable energy, public safety, and economic competitiveness to achieve sustainable urban development.
This will require new or higher level technical, executional, and financial management skills among national agencies and
local governments. Capacity building will therefore be encouraged through partnerships with academic and training
institutions, private sector, and international development agencies.
Improve social service delivery of LGUs. LGUs need to be able to provide access to adequate and high-quality social
services, set up appropriate facilities, and institute waste management schemes. The national government and development
partners will be able to provide technical and financial assistance to them. Collaboration and complementation between
national and local governments will be crucial to ensure coherence of development plans so that there will be no gaps in
service delivery.
CONNECTIVITY
As agglomeration takes place, socioeconomic inequalities across space can be reduced through improved inter-
connection of settlement areas. Rather than forcing a uniform dispersal of development which can create inefficiencies, the
strategy is to establish better transport networks that will enable urban centers with high growth potentials to further expand
growth while providing better access to opportunities to lagging areas. With more efficient network of settlements, more
opportunities for production and employment are expected to be generated, thus increasing family incomes and savings for
investment and growth and reducing poverty. Beyond physical connectivity through transport systems, investments in
telecommunications, technology, and innovation will ensure that even lagging or conflict-affected areas will have access to
services and employment opportunities.
Flesh out and swiftly implements policies and plans for promoting connectivity and guiding infrastructure
development in the country. The NEDA Board has already approved the NTP which will guide the rational development
of an intermodal transport network, promote sub-regional cooperation on multimodal transport system, and create a
transport database. Harmonized efforts of various government agencies and instrumentalities will be key in ensuring that
such policies will be properly implemented. Timely completion of transport infrastructure projects under the Build Build Build
(BBB) program will be pursued by addressing implementation bottlenecks under the new normal.
Identify the remaining missing links in local and national road networks. An integrated approach to transport planning
and project implementation will be pursued through closer engagement between national transport agencies and LGUs.
With their expertise, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr)
can provide assistance in coming up with their local transport and traffic management programs that are aligned with
national priorities (see Chapter 19). These can then be integrated in the spatial and development plans of LGUs. For hazard-
prone areas, road networks for redundancy have to be constructed to establish alternative routes for disaster response and
evacuation.
Ensure the accessibility, availability, affordability, convenience, and reliability of public transport (e.g., railway,
bus, etc.). This will involve rationalization of the public transport design or transport routes to serve new and emerging
origins and destinations. Public transport terminals that integrate different modes of public transportation will be established
in strategic locations. The nautical highway of the country will be strengthened through the improvement of existing Roll-on,
Roll-off (RORO) ports and the establishment of new ones. Improvements and expansion of airport facilities across the
country will also be continued to meet the demand and improve the quality of air travel.
Develop an efficient logistics system. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought forth the importance of efficient logistics
system, particularly in ensuring undisrupted delivery of food and essential goods. Efficient transport systems are also critical
in times of crises. Moreover, concerned agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI) will collaborate in mapping out supply chains in their respective sectors and identify bottlenecks and the
corresponding measures so that the goods will be delivered to their destinations on time. Private logistics companies can
also utilize ICT to monitor incidents that can delay or disrupt the movement of raw materials and manufactured products,
including medicines and medical equipment.
Increase investment in ICT infrastructure. Reliable ICT infrastructure has become vital in ensuring continued government
and private sector services, particularly as physical distancing and quarantines have prevented on-site activities. Hence,
connectivity under the new normal will rely more on digital infrastructure to support online businesses and personal
transactions, as well as online education and health services. Flexible work arrangements such as work from home and
compressed work weeks in government and private sector offer relief to the congested transport networks but will also
require more ICT investments for faster digital connectivity.
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REDUCTION OF VULNERABILITY
The NSS seeks to make vulnerability reduction an integral part of development. This involves instituting prevention
and mitigation measures to reduce the impact of climate change and disasters. These measures include redundancy routes
to provide access to areas affected by disasters.
Due to its geographical location, the country is susceptible to geologic and hydrometeorological hazards. Disaster risk is
also aggravated by uncontrolled development, particularly within ecologically sensitive and hazard-prone areas. Based on
the 2019 World Risk Index, the Philippines ranked 9th among countries with the highest disaster risk, a slight improvement
compared to 2018 where the country ranked 3rd. This can be attributed to the country’s continuous effort to strengthen its
capacity to prepare for and mitigate the negative effects of disasters and climate change.
Despite this gain, the country still needs to maintain substantial investments in vulnerability reduction initiatives
given the level of risk. According to the latest Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) climate change projections, we can expect (a) continuous warming at a rate of 0.1˚C per decade;
(b) increasing trends in annual rainfall and seasonal rainfall in many parts of the country associated with extreme rainfall
events; (c) minimal increase in the frequency of very strong tropical cyclones exceeding 170 kilometers per hour; and (d) a
20-centimeter increase in sea level rise by the end of the 21st century.
Mainstream DRR and CCA in identified growth centers, considering the expected increase in population and
economic activities in these areas. Locations of new development projects and urban expansions will be guided by hazard
maps and information to minimize exposure to hazards. This will also entail ensuring that alternate or redundant access are
in place to prevent isolation during disasters and ensure that there are properly placed and designed evacuation sites.
Promote extensive use of recently developed information technologies to manage disaster risks. The Department
of Science and Technology– Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHILVOLCS) is currently
implementing its GeoRiskPH program. The HazardHunter application developed under this initiative can quickly generate
an initial geologic and hydrometeorological hazards assessment for specific locations. Its GeoMapper feature, which stores
hazard and disaster exposure information, is intended to serve as the central source of information for accurate disaster
risk assessments, and its GeoAnalytics application performs hazards and risk assessment that provides a visualization
through maps and charts.
Given the significant accomplishments of the national government in generating scientific information on hazards
and disaster risks, the continuous data build-up and updating of relevant databases and platforms of DOST and other
agencies will be pursued and supported. Disaster risk assessments will be undertaken, utilizing more recent information on
hazards and elements exposed to it. These will be used to update local development and sectoral plans. These updated
assessment results can also guide adjustments or recalibrations of DRR and CCA interventions.
LGUs and citizens must be able to access, appreciate, and make full use of these information technologies for
disaster preparedness and mitigation actions. In this regard, LGUs will be trained and assisted using these for planning and
identifying, designing, financing, and implementing the initiatives to increase their resiliency. Inter-LGU cooperation will also
be pursued to address the impacts of natural hazards that affect multiple municipalities, cities, and provinces.
Build capacities to mitigate and respond to disease outbreaks and pandemics. Past efforts on disaster risk
reduction and management (DRRM) have focused on geologic and hydrometeorological hazards. COVID-19 has
exposed the need to build the capacities of national and local governments to prepare for and respond to a disease outbreak
of such a magnitude of pandemic. The traditional DRRM and crisis management frameworks will be reviewed and updated
to ensure the country’s readiness to prepare, mitigate, and respond to public health emergencies, given also the possibility
that disease outbreaks can occur simultaneously with natural hazards such as typhoons or floods. Disaster management
agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and LGUs will be adequately provided with equipment and medical
supplies and evacuation centers and quarantine facilities that will be designed and constructed to meet the varying
requirements of such hazard events.
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PART III: TRANSFORMING TOWARDS EQUITY AND RESILIENCY (“PAGBABAGO”)
CHAPTER 12: BUILDING SAFE, RESILIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
The urgency to address the growing need for adequate housing in well-planned communities has never been a
matter of survival until the country confronted the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen in various highly dense communities,
the rapid increase of the spread of the virus, given the difficulty to observe safe social distancing, in congested spaces and
inadequate access to household water and sanitation. Against this backdrop, the housing and urban development sector
continues to pursue building safe,1 resilient, and sustainable communities towards realizing a safe and healthy Philippines.
The sector will operationalize the Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive Filipino Communities (BALAI)
program. BALAI is the multi-stakeholder partnership platform of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban
Development (DHSUD) and its attached corporations, with the private sector, local government units (LGUs), and the
communities, aimed at expanding access to housing opportunities by accelerating housing production, enhancing housing
affordability, especially for low-income groups, and ensuring livability and sustainability of human settlements delivered
through direct and indirect assistance.
ASSESSMENT AND CHALLENGES

There is a paradigm shift from housing production to management of housing, human settlements, and urban
development which catalyzed the creation of the DHSUD, consolidating the functions of the Housing and Urban
Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the regulatory functions of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board
(HLURB). The added powers and functions of DHSUD provide an enabling mechanism for better policy and program
coordination, reform advocacy, and implementation, especially at the Cabinet level.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need to improve the quality of living conditions, especially
vulnerable households living in highly dense communities. Addressing the enormous housing need has always been
challenged by a confluence of structural and transactional factors. These include: (a) institutional bottlenecks, particularly
the complex and tedious processing and approval of housing permits, licenses, and clearances; (b) lack of land suitable for
socialized housing development especially in urban areas; and (c) low agency budget allocation and utilization.
The emerging health and safety concerns, as the country transitions to the new normal, are expected to slow down
housing production, as well as relocation and resettlement activities, given the disruption in production and delivery of
construction materials, limitations in the conduct of social preparation activities, and greater opposition from receiving LGUs,
due to fear of infection and additional social services requirement, among others. These concerns also increase the demand
to shift to digitalized government transactions on human settlements development, to ensure that processing of housing-
related government permits, licenses, and other transactions are not disrupted. There is also a need to address affordability
issues considering that both housing developers and buyers are affected by the pandemic. On the part of developers,
production cost (e.g., construction supplies and materials) has increased due to the imposition of construction health
protocols and the need for housing redesign to meet public health goals. Buyers, on the other hand, may have lost income
and livelihood and may choose to postpone housing investment.
TARGETS
Table 12.1 shows the updated Plan Results Matrices (RMs) indicators and targets for 2020-2022.
Table 12.1 Updated Plan Targets to Build Safe, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities
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STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
The sector will contribute to strengthening the foundations for inclusive and sustainable development by building
safe, resilient, and sustainable communities. This chapter refocuses the subsector outcomes on three areas: regulation,
production, and financing. First, public health goals in the design of human settlements will be integrated. Second, housing
production that incorporates hazard and health standards will be accelerated. Third, alternative housing solutions for low-
income market will be adopted. As a cross-cutting strategy, empowerment of stakeholders (e.g., families, communities, and
LGUs, among others) will be intensified towards the attainment of these three subsector outcomes.
Figure 12.1 Strategic Framework to Build Safe, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities
STRATEGIES
INTEGRATING PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS IN THE DESIGN OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
To ensure livability and sustainability of human settlements, public health goals will need to be considered in building
and design standards, as well as shelter planning.
Enforce strict compliance with building and design standards that consider public health goals. Adjustments in
housing designs to include minimum health standards, such as the integration of wash areas before entry into the main
structure of the housing unit, improving ventilation, and providing ample public and green spaces to lowcost and socialized
housing units, which may serve as isolation and quarantine spaces in case of an outbreak, among others, are deemed
necessary. Further, a national policy on the housing minimum standard space per person to effectively achieve physical
distancing, including the number of rooms per housing unit that would allow for possible areas for quarantine to avoid
crowding, will be pursued by the DHSUD, in coordination with the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM).
Considering this, the national government agencies (NGAs) and the LGUs will enforce stricter compliance with building and
design standards (i.e., safety, location, structural design, and integrity) by the developers, contractors, and private
homebuilders. Due diligence is essential on the part of NGAs and LGUs, in terms of inspection of materials, construction
progress monitoring, and certification of project completion, to also ensure satisfactory compliance with building and design
standards. An inventory of housing units that do not meet minimum design and health standards will be jointly pursued by
DHSUD and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in coordination with the LGUs.
Mainstream local shelter planning that integrates public health goals in the Comprehensive Land Use Plans
(CLUPs) of cities and municipalities. As a tool to address its public housing provision, the DHSUD shall institutionalize
local shelter planning through the Local Shelter Program (LSP) in cities and municipalities as provided in the Local
Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160) and the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) of 1992 (RA 7279). To
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operationalize the LSP, implementing guidelines and strategies that will provide technical assistance to the LGUs, in the
formulation of a risk informed LSP to address resiliency and mitigate impacts of disaster/ calamity to households, shall be
developed. These will complement the Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the CLUP, formulated in 2014 by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB)
under Resolution No. 915. The LSP will also utilize POPCOM’s Demographic Vulnerabilities Tool (DVT) based on the
analysis of four important characteristics of every barangay during a pandemic: (a) the number of houses measuring less
than 20 square meters (sqm) in the barangay; (b) the number of individuals living in a house; (c) the number of individuals
60 years of age and older living in houses less than 20 sqm; and (d) the number of individuals 60 years of age and older
living alone.
A Local Government Shelter Plan Management and Monitoring System shall be established to ensure efficient
delivery of housing, financing, and other housing/shelter interventions to targeted beneficiaries. To incentivize its
formulation, an approved LSP will be a requirement in the DHSUD’s issuance of the BALAI seal of compliance. Specific
health measures include incorporating hazard and health standards in the CLUPs and zoning ordinances. Such measures
are aimed at reducing infectious and communicable diseases and enhancing the well-being of the population, especially
those who face additional risks due to poverty (i.e., women, children, elderly, and other marginalized groups); prioritizing
more open and green spaces and better walkability that allow for social distancing in CLUPs; and exploring the inclusion of
an open or public space, which may be used for isolation and/or quarantine or other similar purposes, in the design of
housing and resettlement packages.
Operationalize the National Resettlement Policy Framework (NRPF). The DHSUD will fully implement the NRPF and
ensure its integration in the local plans and programs on resettlement. In the next two years, the DHSUD will undertake
information dissemination, consultations, and subsequent issuances of policy resolutions towards the implementation of the
framework, in line with the localization efforts on the New Urban Agenda (NUA). The NRPF will be promulgated with
emphasis on livelihood restoration guided by a socioeconomic restoration framework.
ACCELERATING HOUSING PRODUCTION THAT INCORPORATES HAZARD AND HEALTH STANDARDS
To expand housing opportunities and help in the social and economic recovery from COVID-19, the government
will accelerate housing production following urban development and housing framework and incorporating hazard and
health standards.
Implement the National Urban Development and Housing Framework (NUDHF) 2017-2022. With lessons from the past
two decades, the recent iteration of the NUDHF provides a more cohesive framework with emphasis on making urban
spaces greener and more inclusive. It recognizes the role of urbanization in creating more open, connected, and collectively
resilient communities. These will be incorporated in CLUPs, zoning ordinances, comprehensive development plans, and
LSP, which will guide urbanization that supports equitable growth and promotes uniquely Filipino cities and municipalities.
In the next two years, the DHSUD will issue a Department Order (DO) or a Joint Memorandum Circular to mandate
concerned NGAs and LGUs to implement and monitor in adherence to the NUDHF.
Fully mainstream whole-of-government action in voluntary resettlement initiatives. To ensure sustainability in the
voluntary resettlement initiatives of the government, the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program will be fully
implemented through complementary initiatives while sustaining established community safety and health standards. The
program leverages both national and local government resources in ensuring inclusive and balanced urban and rural
development, promoting rural prosperity, and complementing initiatives towards attaining resilient and sustainable
communities. In the past, the lack of coordination and clear policy guidance among concerned agencies and LGUs
hampered the prompt and sustained delivery of auxiliary services such as school buildings, day care centers, health centers,
access roads, and livelihood support services. A BP2 Council was created by virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 114 to
serve as the coordinating body for implementation. As majority of families below the poverty threshold live in unplanned
communities or in high-risk and danger areas and their lack of financial resources diminishes their capacity to recover from
calamities, they are the most vulnerable in times of natural and anthropogenic disasters. A resettlement emergency
assistance program (REAP) by the DHSUD will, likewise, be implemented to ensure that families affected by unanticipated
events are provided with emergency financial assistance for the construction or rehabilitation of their houses.
Strictly monitor the implementation of riskbased public health standards in housing and urban development-
related activities. As part of the health protocols imposed by the government, the DHSUD will monitor the strict
implementation of the recently issued DO No. 2020-005 dated May 14, 2020. The policy provides guidelines for all
developers and other entities on the mandatory minimum requirements, as well as inspection and monitoring procedures in
the commencement or resumption of their real estate business, development and construction operations, and activities in
areas covered by the community quarantine due to COVID-19. The DHSUD and its attached corporations will also issue
guidelines to ensure service continuity in housing and auxiliary services delivery during the pandemic.
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Include production of safe, livable, and resilient housing in the COVID-19 recovery and resiliency program. The
activities of the housing sector are recognized as an economic pump-primer because of the over 80 allied industries
involved. Housing activities also contribute to total employment, generating substantial direct employment with an average
of 8.3 laborers for three weeks or 124 person-days per housing unit – an average of approximately 5 percent of the country’s
total employment. Through continuous production of housing units, more employment opportunities are generated for
laborers and other workers involved in the housing industry. Given the economic and social contribution of housing, it is
imperative that the government elevate the human settlements and urban development programs, as part of the COVID-19
recovery and resiliency plan and ensure its continuous delivery of services.
Implement unified seamless digitalized housing development transactions processing for homebuyers and
developers. This shall include review of procedures to streamline and digitalize the issuance of housing-related licenses,
clearances, and permits in light of COVID-19. Housing onestop processing centers will be established in every region to
fast-track processing of housing-related permits, clearances, and licenses issued by the NGAs and LGUs. The aim is to
further streamline the 78 government-related transactions that take about 48 months, on average, in compliant with the
Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery (EODB-EGSD) Act of 2018 (RA 11032) and the Anti
Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007 (RA 9485).
Upscale high-density housing programs in highly urbanized cities (HUCs). High-density housing solutions such as
low-rise (3-5 storeys), mediumrise (6-10 storeys), and high-rise (above 10 storeys) buildings to maximize housing production
per unit of land, especially in HUCs, will be expanded. The design of the structures should allow several entry/exit points
with adequate health and security protection for its residents. The units should have adequate ventilation and space per
person.
Adopt viable land acquisition approaches. Land banking, especially for urban socialized housing, will be scaled up as
government prioritizes in- and near- city approaches to resettlement. Likewise, the use of the modalities of usufruct or long-
term use of land will be expanded to enhance affordability of socialized and low-cost housing programs due to lower land
development cost.
ADOPTING ALTERNATIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR LOW-INCOME MARKET
To make housing more affordable for low-income market, alternative housing solutions will be adopted.
Implement innovative housing finance modalities. Recognizing the importance of housing microfinance, as a pro-poor
housing finance strategy with the potential to incorporate climate and disaster resilience, the DHSUD will formulate
institutional and policy reforms to accelerate housing microfinance as the primary pro-poor housing finance strategy. It will,
likewise, identify potential products to provide credit that encourages disaster-resilient housing and support, in post-disaster
reconstruction of damaged housing. Alongside this, the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion
(TRAIN) Act (RA 10963), which rationalizes the tax incentives system for socialized housing, will develop direct subsidies
through housing vouchers, public rental housing, housing microfinance models, and Islamic financing schemes. A feasibility
study and pilot implementation of the housing voucher and public rental housing modalities will be pursued by the DHSUD.
Partnership with the private sector for incentivized compliance with the Balanced Housing provision under RA 7279, as
amended by RA10884, to mobilize funds for public housing of LGUs, as an offshoot of the private developer’s compliance,
with these laws shall be continuously explored.
Strengthen primary mortgage markets and develop more secondary ones. The current efforts of Home Development
Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) under the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) have proven to be effective. Lowering interest rates
from 6 percent to 3 percent increased socialized housing loan take-outs from low-income Pag-IBIG members. Sustaining
the success of the Modified Pag-IBIG (MP2) program implementation is expected to expand the Pag-IBIG Fund’s fiscal
space to enable it to finance more loan take-outs and other loan services. On the other hand, to accelerate the rollover of
housing funds to provide a sustainable source of financing, the secondary mortgage programs of National Home Mortgage
Finance Corporation (NHMFC) need to be further strengthened and broadened, to include housingrelated financial assets
and not only limited to home mortgages. In addition, marketing of NHMFC’s programs need to be intensified. For instance,
the MAginhawang BUhay sa baHAY (MABUHAY) Program, a newly introduced reverse mortgage program, needs to be
widely promoted. The MABUHAY allows senior citizens/retirees to convert a portion of their home equity into cash to address
immediate financial needs.
STAKEHOLDERS EMPOWERMENT
The DHSUD will empower stakeholders by institutionalizing community-led/ driven development of human settlements, as
a crosscutting strategy to ensure sustainability of its program implementation. Specifically, the DHSUD and its attached
corporations will provide guidelines for the strict observance of safety standards and health protocols in the conduct of
peoples’ planning and other community-led/participatory approaches in human settlements development. This is to aid in
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strengthening community cohesion, improving community competencies for pre- and posthealth action activities, and other
disaster-related activities, upgrading community areas through site development and provision of infrastructure (e.g.,
utilities, small roads/access roads, sewage systems), and capacitating community associations such as homeowners
associations (HOAs), housing cooperatives, and neighborhood associations, on estate management in a truly participatory
and sustained manner.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
To strengthen effectiveness of the strategies, the following legislative actions are needed:
Table 12.2 Legislative Agenda to Build Safe, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities
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PART IV: FOUNDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 19: ACCELERATING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Accelerating Infrastructure Development (Chapter 19) aims to support a higher growth trajectory and improve the
quality of life in both urban and rural communities. It will plug the infrastructure gap to catch up with peers in the ASEAN
region. Since 2017, the country’s infrastructure development has been continuously founded on a robust pipeline of forward-
looking infrastructure projects through the BBB agenda. In 2018, infrastructure spending exceeded the benchmark 5 percent
of GDP which is twice the average spending over the past five decades. However, the challenges brought by the pandemic
will alter the overall infrastructure development agenda. The resource requirements of the response to the pandemic is
expected to reduce the fiscal space initially allotted for the portfolio of investments and could slow down the movement and
implementation of programs and projects. Accordingly, the government reassessed its strategies and targets for the
remaining Plan period to ensure that these remain relevant and achievable in the face of the new and better normal and in
pursuit of a healthy and resilient Philippines. Even while facing constraints brought about by the pandemic, the government
will remain mindful of the long-term development goals requiring early interventions.
The Build, Build, Build (BBB) Program managed to overcome several implementation challenges in the first half of
the Plan period, having increased infrastructure spending to more than five percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in
2018, twice more than the average spending over the past five decades. The progress of the Program is a confirmation of
the government’s strong resolve to improve the country’s infrastructure strategically and decisively through the development
of a robust pipeline of massive capital investments, including priority high-impact projects, and the implementation of game-
changing reforms.
The unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, however, is expected to alter the overall
infrastructure development agenda. The resource requirements of the response to the pandemic is expected to reduce the
fiscal space initially allotted for the portfolio of investments and could slow down the movement and implementation of
programs and projects. On the other hand, the government is also keen in using BBB as an instrument for socioeconomic
recovery.
The resumption of rollout of activities under the BBB Program and the continuous investment in infrastructure are
vital to stimulating the economy and facilitating recovery with their potential multiplier effects on creating jobs and stimulating
growth. Bolstering infrastructure is instrumental in ensuring business continuity, development of agglomeration economies,
creation of new urban centers, delivery of essential government services, and transitioning into the digital economy.
Accordingly, the government reassessed its strategies and targets for the remaining Plan period to ensure that these remain
relevant and achievable in the face of the “new normal” and in pursuit of a healthy and resilient Philippines. Even while
facing constraints brought about by the pandemic, government will remain mindful of the longer term development goals
requiring early interventions.

Assessment: During the first half of Plan implementation, frameworks, laws, and policies were introduced for various
infrastructure sub-sectors: (a) National Transport Policy (NTP) and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR); (b)
streamlining of regulatory procedures for energy projects; (c) formulation of the framework for use of energy-efficient
technologies; (d) enactment of the means to lower electricity costs; (e) adoption of the framework for the Public School of
the Future; (f) Philippine Health Facility Development Plan to guide and ensure the rational allocation of investments for
public health facilities, upgrading and development, including the Health Facilities Enhancement Program; and (g)
government-initiated investments in the enhancement of the digital infrastructure through the National Broadband Program.
Challenges: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed serious challenges to resource mobilization and implementation of the
BBB Program, particularly in terms of: (a) availability of fiscal space for the target infrastructure program; (b) conceivable
delays in project preparation, procurement, and/ or implementation due to disruption of work of contractors,
professionals/experts/engineers, and workers/laborers involved in the projects; (c) possible interruption of importation of
construction materials due to disruption to labor and materials supply; and (d) change in demand for infrastructure services,
which could affect the financial viability and therefore appetite of investors, particularly in public-private partnership (PPP)
projects. In addition, increase in costs of infrastructure projects may be expected due to requirements for social distancing
and other health precautionary measures and protocols.
Amidst the challenges of the pandemic and transitioning to the “new normal,” the government will have to continue
and step-up efforts to address increasing demand for infrastructure, especially health and water facilities, which have been
and continue to be critical in the fight against COVID-19, right-of-way issues, lack of updated and integrated infrastructure
data, and regulatory environment issues. At the same time, the remainder of the reform agenda will still be pursued —
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creation of an apex body for water resources and an independent economic regulator for water supply and sanitation; and
amendments to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Joint Venture (JV) Guidelines.
TARGETS
The Plan targets for FY 2020-2022 were revisited and updated considering infrastructure development, as a pivotal
strategy to pump-prime the economy and with the strong recognition that each sector of the economy essentially requires
infrastructure emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and transitioning further into the path of recovery and resiliency.
Table 19.1 shows the success indicators and updated targets for infrastructure development.
Table 19.1 Updated Targets to Accelerate Infrastructure Development
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STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
Infrastructure development is an important bedrock strategy that contributes to enhancing the social fabric, reducing
inequality, and increasing the country’s growth potential, enabling all other development strategies to work effectively. The
aspiration of a healthy and resilient Philippines entails envisioning the country’s strategic infrastructure development post-
pandemic with the BBB Program as a major growth lever to hasten the country’s recovery and provide a more solid
foundation for resiliency. The outcomes and major strategies for the rest of the Plan period were carefully revisited and
updated to better facilitate the transition and adaptation to the new normal, propel economic activities, and lay the foundation
for extended growth.
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Figure 19.1 Strategic Framework to Accelerate Infrastructure Development
STRATEGIES
With the continuous reopening of the domestic markets and gradual lifting of restrictions, the government will
prioritize the continuous resumption of the BBB Program, which is envisaged as a key element in bringing the muchneeded
impetus to help the country emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and bounce back to recovery. With this, the major
strategies aimed at accelerating infrastructure development have been updated as: (a) re-program activities and projects
for the new normal; (b) implement strategic infrastructure for various infrastructure subsectors; (c) ensure asset
preservation; and (d) intensify infrastructure-related research and development (R&D) on technologies, including monitoring
and evaluation of critical outcome indicators.
Recognizing that resources are limited as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, the government was
constrained in the rollout and implementation of the infrastructure program in 2020. Nonetheless, the rollout of infrastructure
projects is expected to bounce back in 2021 and be a major driver of economic growth through job generation, among
others. The government will thus continue to closely monitor progress and adjust on an annual basis or as necessary.
Project proponents or implementing agencies will also have to be mindful of the project planning and implementation
phases such that mobilization of resources is properly timed. Important projects that form part of master plans and are
expected to yield significant benefits in the long-term will still be pursued by starting pre-procurement activities, capacity-
building, social preparation, coordination among agencies and local government units (LGUs), anticipating and resolving
right of way problems and other regulatory issues, which are common and recurring causes of implementation delays.
Addressing such issues will pave the way for smoother and faster implementation of projects in the future. Thus, while the
pandemic may have slowed down and disrupted the implementation of projects, with the right policies, financial instruments,
and our whole-of-government approach, the resumption of the BBB Program is intended to put the Philippines in a good
position to drive its recovery and resiliency program.
SUSTAINING OPERATIONS AND ACCELERATING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

RE-PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS FOR THE NEW NORMAL
Invest in necessary infrastructure under the new normal. Accelerating infrastructure development has gained increased
urgency and relevance because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To rise from the economic downturn and build lasting gains,
the government will need to stimulate optimism and confidence in the general economy and investing in the necessary
infrastructure under the normal is a crucial strategy to support recovery by creating stimulus for economic growth through
employment opportunities and aiming for renewed investor appetite and confidence.
The government has an ambitious infrastructure development program in place that has undergone review and
reprioritization. As the country continues to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has prioritized development
interventions that will have the most impact on the economy, guided by recovery and resiliency measures. This initiative
involved assessing the available fiscal space for the infrastructure sector due to the pandemic, firming up budgetary
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requirements, and carefully adjusting the infrastructure spending strategy such that additional fiscal space for pressing
health and social recovery programs may be better supported.
Thus, the government has carefully revisited the BBB Program and the Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) to
take into account emerging priorities under the new normal and prioritize projects with high economic impact with due
consideration for project readiness, implementation capacity of line agencies, job-generation potential, and interest and risk
level of the private sector. Accelerating infrastructure investment is seen to drive economic and productive activities across
industries towards creating employment opportunities to support direct and indirect jobs that, in turn, have multiplier effects
that can help trigger and regain consumer spending and business confidence.
Besides infrastructure being crucial to support recovery, it is also a key strategy to strengthen the country’s
resilience given the changing global economic landscape and to be better positioned in dealing with future pandemics and
their socioeconomic implications. Thus, the government recognizes that a shift in investment priorities under the new normal
is necessary with greater focus on resiliency that can build a better foundation for lasting growth.
The shifts in focus in infrastructure investments involve development interventions in various infrastructure facilities
and services that have gained imperative value and urgency in transitioning into the new normal and unleashing economic
opportunities in a post-pandemic world. The changing patterns in the way people work and do business provide an impetus
for the government to fast-track its efforts in shifting into the digital economy and contactless society, which require
enhancing the country’s digital infrastructure and broadband internet. Additional investments will be pursued in affording
new priorities for social infrastructure services under the new normal, particularly given the heightened importance of
advancing our healthcare systems and the capacities of our healthcare facilities; to continue the delivery of quality education
through blended learning and improvement of our education facilities; and to provide appropriate housing and resettlement
in support of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program. Access to safe and adequate water supply and sanitation
will be given priority with ever increasing water demand and consumption, especially to help mitigate the spread of COVID-
19 and other diseases through proper hygiene. The development and maintenance of irrigation facilities will also be
necessary to support the food security goals of the country. Moreover, the electrification efforts will be accelerated,
particularly in off-grid areas, to support the energy requirements under the digital economy and contribute to providing
security and promoting lasting peace. With all these, continued investments in infrastructure come with exercising fiscal
prudence and enhanced capacity to efficiently utilize the available resources.
Pursue PPPs in infrastructure development. The private sector will play an important role in supplementing government
efforts and augmenting public resources as the latter can mobilize the former’s capital to finance infrastructure projects and
tap their efficiency and expertise in project delivery and management fully or partially. Through PPPs, government resources
may be freed up for urgently needed health and social recovery programs.
Along this line, the government will continue to enhance the regulatory framework for PPP to address various issues
and challenges and fast-track the implementation of priority projects and programs. In this regard, the government intends
to amend the NEDA JV Guidelines in the immediate term.
Continue to push for reforms and convergence programs. With less than three years remaining in the Plan period,
convergence programs and inter-agency collaborations will be further intensified, such that the needed reforms that the
government has initiated can be finally realized and implemented.
To smoothly carry out the BBB Program, the NEDA will work closely with the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) and other member agencies of the NEDA Board Committees to strengthen the alignment and synergy
among planning, programming, and budgeting. Moreover, the government will continue to champion the timely movement
and completion of priority programs, activities, and projects by identifying operational issues hampering project
implementation under the new normal and aiming for the early resolution of bottlenecks. To minimize road disruptions in
the rollout of infrastructure, the government (e.g., Department of Public Works and Highways [DWPH], Department of
Transportation [DOTr], Department of Information and Communications Technology [DICT], among others) will form
convergence programs and agreements for coordination of planning permission and civil works, and in the process, to also
work towards transparency and better coordination with utility service providers.
PROTECTING CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

ENSURING ASSET PRESERVATION
With emphasis on sustainability, safety, and resilience of infrastructure, asset management planning, and innovative
maintenance strategies will be implemented to improve the infrastructure system’s performance. The conduct of
comprehensive vulnerability and risk assessment of critical infrastructure, particularly in areas considered as COVID-19
hotspots—including buildings that may serve as isolation or treatment facilities—is deemed urgent and significant.
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Strengthen technical and financial capabilities for operations and maintenance. Training facilities will be established
for the upgrading of the technical and managerial skills of the country’s workforce and building their capacity to innovate.
National and local level planning will be rationalized, and processes will be streamlined to expedite program and project
implementation. To optimize the use of funds for infrastructure development, value engineering, and value analysis
techniques at different stages of project development will continue to be applied.
The country’s regions will be developed through better rationalization of the budget allocation that takes into account
the geographic location of infrastructure projects and programs. This effort will be guided by masterplans and roadmaps
being formulated, maintained, and updated by pertinent agencies.
Incorporate climate change adaptation and disaster resilience measures and ensure the security of infrastructure
facilities. Given the country’s high vulnerability to disasters and the effects of climate change, disaster risk reduction and
climate change adaptation strategies will be employed. The Energy Resiliency Policy, issued to institutionalize disaster
resiliency efforts, aims to strengthen energy systems and facilities such that these can quickly restore power and provide
alternative sources of energy in times of emergency. To mitigate risks that threaten essential infrastructure services, there
will be coordinated efforts to enhance the security of infrastructure facilities through the adoption of appropriate technologies
(e.g., surveillance systems, satellite-based navigation systems, among others). Existing data infrastructure in the National
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Operations Center will be upgraded. Joint exercises in disaster response protocols
and engagement of stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation will be conducted with the end
view of meeting international sustainability standard rating systems for construction. Sustainability incentive programs will
be promoted, and the comprehensive and integrated strategic environmental assessment will be undertaken.
INTENSIFYING INFRASTRUCTURE-RELATED R&D
Recognizing that R&D can foster a more sustainable and efficient way of building infrastructure, the government
will pursue R&D on renewable energy and technologies to meet the growing need for clean and affordable energy, cost-
efficient technologies for the management of wastewater and solid, hazardous, and healthcare wastes to protect public
health and the environment, new transportation technologies, climate change- and disaster- resilient infrastructure designs;
and new methodologies for gathering and managing science-based data. In this regard, the establishment of R&D facilities
will be supported.
Improve the collection, management, and utilization of infrastructure data across all subsectors for planning,
programming, and policymaking. Updated, integrated, and comprehensive data for various subsectors of the
infrastructure sectors will be made available to decision-makers to serve as basis in planning, programming, and
policymaking. Towards this end, resources will be mobilized to identify vital data and statistics for the infrastructure sector,
with the intent of establishing comprehensive databases based on available technological applications and platforms.
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CHAPTER 20: ENSURING ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY, CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
The COVID-19 pandemic and the mobility restrictions that were imposed have redirected our attention to the most
basic needs of air, water, and food and how these relate to human health. In fact, encroachment into natural habitats caused
the transmission of zoonotic diseases, such as COVID-19 from animals to humans, posing greater societal risk. The shift
towards sustainable development then becomes an urgent matter of survival.
Building on the reforms and accomplishments in the past three years of Plan implementation, the government will
continue to improve the state of the environment and natural resources (ENR) and increase resilience of resource-
dependent and vulnerable communities against the converging risks arising from natural and biological hazards under a
changing climate. The sector’s goals and targets will be realized by addressing long-standing issues on governance and
monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

Assessment: For the first three years of Plan implementation, stakeholders have increasingly been participating in
transformative actions toward bringing back the benefits that Filipinos enjoy from environment and natural resources while
improving resilience to climate and disaster risks. The following actions and reforms in the sector were put in place: (a)
demonstration effect of rehabilitation efforts (e.g., Boracay and Manila Bay rehabilitation); (b) institutionalization of sector
reforms through policy issuances and implementation (e.g., National Integrated Protected Areas System [NIPAS] Act, as
amended by Republic Act [RA] 11038), Guidelines on Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA); (c) formulation of the
Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (PAP4SCP); and (d) development of local climate
change adaptation and mitigation/disaster risk reduction and management (CCAM/DRRM) plans and establishment of early
warning systems.
However, current experience on the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent imposition of community quarantine
resulted in both negative and positive impacts on the ENR sector, which clearly manifested the interrelationship of
environment and public health. On one hand, the restrictions on the movement of people during the quarantine and
pandemic response measures and protocols have (a) caused limited patrolling, policing, and ground validation activities for
wildlife and habitat protection, (b) generated more waste from healthcare facilities and households, (c) increased pressure
on resource extraction as raw materials for additional quarantine facilities, and (d) increased vulnerability of resource-
dependent communities to the economic and social impacts of the pandemic and natural hazards, especially with the onset
of rainy season, which may be exacerbated by climate variability. On the other hand, the quarantine resulted in improvement
in urban air quality and allowed many ecotourism sites to start to recover their pristine state, thus encouraging behavior
towards preservation and ecological restoration.
Challenges: In view of the new normal state arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, managing pollution and sustainable use
of natural resources vis-a-vis addressing the threat of future pandemics amid climate change become even more
challenging. Poor waste management and pollution control exacerbate decline in environmental quality. Inadequate waste
management facilities can increase the volume of untreated healthcare wastes which pose a greater threat to public health.
Also, with the digitalization of most economic activities, harmful substances from unmanaged electronic wastes will
contaminate land, air, and water – aggravating pollution and health risks. A lack of air and water pollution control measures
can worsen the situation and even negate the environmental gains generated during the quarantine period. Further,
ineffectual ENR governance and institutional arrangements undermine the effectiveness of protection, conservation,
rehabilitation, and resilience measures. The national and sub-national governments have had limited capacity to manage
multi-dimensional risks arising from natural and biological hazards, including climate change. This affects our response to
mitigate the impacts and implement recovery measures. The low adoption of innovative technologies for enforcement and
monitoring of wildlife and habitats also limits efforts to keep biodiversity intact and minimize zoonotic disease risks.
Compounding these are the following long-standing challenges in the sector that need to be addressed:
Issues on zoning, boundary delineation, and overlapping claims constrain efforts on the rehabilitation of natural
resources. The absence of zoning, unresolved boundary conflicts in many LGUs, and outdated land records and problems
in land data capture pose challenges in: (a) achieving targets on issuance of residential free patents; (b) facilitating forestry-
related investments; and (c) supporting preferential access of municipal fishers to coastal and marine waters, among others.
These zoning and delineation issues stem primarily from the lack of national land and sea use, and permanent forest limit
policies.
Weak and fragmented M&E system in the sector prevents timely and appropriate interventions. This stems from the
lack of an integrated M&E framework and inadequate capacity for the use of appropriate methodology, particularly for the
collection and robust analysis of up-to-date ENR data. In fact, concerns on insufficient data capture from environmental
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monitoring stations and limited habitat inventory make it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of ENR management
interventions. Moreover, the methodologies being used to generate, monitor, and report data/ information, are still
inadequate, such as on (a) waste management (e.g., solid waste diversion rate, wastewater production vs. treatment
capacity), (b) livelihood and other economic opportunities provided by ecosystems (e.g. ecotourism and biodiversity-friendly
enterprises), and (c) resilience to the impacts of climate change and disasters (e.g., risk resilience index). Furthermore,
existing review tools do not yet capture whether or not local plans (i.e., Comprehensive Development Plans [CDPs],
Comprehensive Land Use Plans [CLUPs], Local Climate Change Action Plans [LCCAPs], and Local Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Plans [LDDRMPs]) are risk-informed and/or responsive to the vulnerability of a given locality.

Table 20.1 presents the medium-term targets corresponding to each of the major outcomes, namely: (a) biodiversity
and ecosystem services sustained; (b) environmental quality improved; and (c) resilience of resource-dependent and
vulnerable communities increased.
Table 20.1 Updated Plan Targets to Ensure Ecological Integrity, Clean and Healthy Environment
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STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
For a healthy and resilient Philippines, the government will intensify the protection, conservation, and rehabilitation
of natural resources and accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies for enforcement and monitoring of wildlife and
habitat. Law enforcement will be further strengthened to enhance compliance with environmental standards and safeguards
and consequently improve environmental quality.
Innovative waste and pollution abatement measures will also be implemented to address the increasing waste and
other pollutants generated from COVID-19 response measures, among others. The resilience of resource-dependent
communities and their livelihood will be enhanced by strengthening capacities to undertake CCAM-DRRM actions and
expanding sustainable economic opportunities from natural capital.
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Figure 20.1. Strategic Framework to Ensure Ecological Integrity, Clean and Healthy Environment
STRATEGIES
To achieve the Plan’s targets, sector-specific and cross-cutting strategies will be implemented.
SUSTAINING BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
To sustain biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services, demonstration effects from natural resources
protection, conservation, and rehabilitation efforts will be replicated and scaled up by building on the increased multi-
stakeholder involvement and existing opportunities for interagency convergence. Capacities and competencies for data
generation, assessment, and tracking of the state of natural resources, including its ecosystem services, will be enhanced.
Complementing these are the necessary investments for research and development (R&D), as well as innovative monitoring
technologies that will support habitat and wildlife protection and help safeguard the country from zoonotic diseases arising
from unsustainable and illegal wildlife consumption and trade.
INTENSIFY PROTECTION, CONSERVATION AND REHABILITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
Ecosystem-based actions and area-based management will continue to be prioritized to protect terrestrial and coastal and
marine ecosystems while supporting the natural and assisted rehabilitation of degraded habitats. Conservation and
sustainable use of natural resources will also be strengthened to ensure continuous provision of essential ecosystem goods
and services to optimize their contribution to the economy, food security, and overall well-being of people.
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
Forest and critical watersheds including inland wetlands and caves.
• Prioritize interventions and investments to accelerate and improve forest protection and reforestation
activities in critical watersheds. Integrated and science-based restoration approaches, such as forest landscape
restoration, will be used to rehabilitate the remaining unproductive, denuded, and degraded forest areas, including
critical watersheds. The LGUs, private sector, and communities will, once more, be engaged in community-based
forest and watershed management to ensure that the remaining natural forests and reforested areas remain intact
and protected. These strategies are geared towards ensuring uninterrupted supply of water to meet the country’s
demand for domestic, agricultural, health and sanitation, and industrial uses, and other forest ecosystem services.
• Enhance water conservation and efficiency measures to avert water shortage. Nature-based solutions, aside
from hard infrastructure, will be pursued to enhance water use efficiency and conservation. Support will be given
for the establishment of riparian buffer strips, restoration of natural floodplains, and aquifer recharge.
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• Continue and scale up the conduct of comprehensive water resource assessment in groundwater critical
areas and major river basins for sustainable water supply. This will support evidence-based planning and guide
sustainable allocation of water resources, assessment, and simulation of current and potential future scenarios for
surface and groundwater resources.
• Delineate production and protection forests. The areas within forestland that will be made available for
development and private sector investment (production zones) and those reserved for protection and conservation
activities (protection zones) will be identified. This way, appropriate management arrangements in the forestlands
can be established and protection and rehabilitation efforts for protected areas and ancestral lands can be
harmonized.
• Optimize the implementation of the NIPAS Act, as amended, to improve the management of terrestrial
protected areas. Specifically, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will (a) conduct
regular monitoring of protected area management to gauge effectiveness, and (b) implement a biodiversity
assessment and management system starting with determining baseline conditions of habitats and species (e.g.,
species richness and abundance).
• Improve the management and sustainable use of inland wetlands and their resources. The DENR will (a)
conduct biophysical and sociocultural assessments of inland wetlands to determine those for conservation and
rehabilitation; (b) strengthen enforcement of legal easement, hazard zones, and other environmental regulations to
ensure sustainable use of inland wetlands in coordination with LGUs; and (c) continue to utilize market-based
instruments to promote conservation and proper management of inland wetlands.
• Scale up sustainable management of caves and cave systems. The DENR cave survey, assessment, and
classification activities will be scaled up to identify caves with high conservation value for protection. Policies to
develop caves as ecotourism attractions and monitor/manage visitor impact, while ensuring compliance with safety
and sanitation standards, will be formulated and implemented by the DENR, the Department of Tourism (DOT), and
the LGUs.
• Conduct research on terrestrial ecological connectivity to support biodiversity corridors. Research studies
that examine the ecological needs and natural behavior of wildlife species will be pursued to inform development
of biodiversity corridors. The corridors intend to link terrestrial protected areas to ensure uninterrupted areas of
forest and other habitats, which support the entire life cycle of birds and other important wildlife species.
Land and Mineral Resources
• Complete Rapid Land Tenure Appraisal (RLTA) to identify patentable lands and facilitate issuance of free
patents (i.e., residential and agricultural). Partnership and coordination among land-related agencies and the
LGUs will be intensified, and land titling processes will be streamlined. These will hasten land survey and titling
activities and address concerns on idle private lands for optimal use, such as for agriculture and forestry purposes,
among others (see Chapter 8). The LGUs will also be encouraged to adopt their zoning ordinances based on best-
use assessment of land assets and enable implementation of their CLUPs.
• Pursue the mapping of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) to facilitate the
recognition of ancestral lands/ domains. The country’s various ICCs/IPs will be identified and mapped with the
issuance of Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) and Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CALT), and
provided with assistance in the preparation of their Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan
(ADSDPP). This will help address overlaps, particularly in forestlands, protected areas, and ancestral
domains/lands.
• Rationalize and enhance the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) process for the protection of
indigenous peoples’ rights and interests in their ancestral domains. The National Commission on Indigenous
Peoples (NCIP) will rationalize the process for issuance of FPIC clearances to promote genuine protection of the
rights of IPs and ICCs and ensure their active engagement in the governance of natural resources within their
ancestral domain based on their own plans and priorities.
• Improve compliance with environmental and social safeguards for mineral resources development. The
DENR will:
o Strengthen regulatory enforcement, M&E, and reporting mechanisms through the:
▪ Conduct of objective, science-based, and fact-finding reviews of large- and smallscale mining
operations, including mineral processing plants;
▪ Enhancement of the participation of the mining industry in the Extractive Industries Transparency
Initiative to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the management of natural
resources; and
▪ Development and adoption of a more stringent monitoring instrument (e.g., scorecard) for
assessing compliance of mines under exploration, production, and care and maintenance.
o Ensure that plans and programs for largescale mining operations (e.g., Safety and Health Program, Final
Mine Rehabilitation and/or Decommissioning Plan, Social Development and Management Program and
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Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program) and small-scale mining operations (e.g., Community
Development and Management Plan and Potential Environmental Impact Management Plan) are aligned
with the local land use and development plans;
o Continue research and development to determine the appropriate strategies that will address the mercury
contamination of Palawan Quicksilver Mine, Inc. as part of the rehabilitation (i.e., bio-remediation), and
facilitate the smooth turnover of management (i.e., protection and maintenance) to the LGU at the end of
the project;
o Strengthen the Minahang Bayan scheme to avoid proliferation of illegal small-scale mining activities and
ensure that operations are undertaken only under legitimate contracts/permits and within legitimate/
designated areas by:
▪ Revisiting the implementation of the People's Small-scale Mining Act of 1991 (RA 7076) particularly
the definition and coverage of small-scale mining;
▪ Easing the application requirement of Minahang Bayan scheme; and
▪ Increasing the penalty provisions to approximate the value of environmental and health damages
and intensify the antilegal mining efforts.
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
• Complete stocktaking of coastal and marine habitats and species diversity. The extent and condition of the
country’s coastal and marine habitats, such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, will be determined to
support a more effective planning and programming for the sector. The species and genus diversity of these habitats
will be assessed with the implementation of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP)
and the NIPAS Act, as amended, among others.
• Optimize the increased coverage of MPAs as a habitat of biologically and economically important species
through MPA networking. In view of the declining performance of the fisheries sector (see Chapter 8), it is
important to ensure that appropriate management measures are established in the country’s MPAs, based on
ecological connectivity and biophysical assessments. To scale up MPA networking, more ecological connectivity
studies will be undertaken to effectively protect and conserve the entire life cycle of fish and other marine species.
• Pilot-test existing innovative technologies for rehabilitation of coastal habitats. Innovative technologies will
be pilot-tested to fast-track rehabilitation of degraded coastal and marine habitats (e.g., massive coral larval
reseeding), and support replication and scaling-up.
• Complete delineation of municipal waters. Continuous support and technical assistance from the National
Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) will be provided to LGUs to fast-track municipal water
delineation, while the guidelines for delineation of municipal waters with offshore islands will be finalized by the
Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DABFAR). Spatial planning within the
delineated municipal waters will also be pursued to determine the protection and multiple use zones.
• Enhance multi-stakeholder coordination and capacity on coastal and marine resources management
aligned with the country’s international commitments and related sector initiatives (e.g., coral triangle
initiative on coral reefs, fisheries, and food security). Program convergence budgeting and cooperation among
the DA, the DENR, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as well as between and
among the LGUs, will be pursued to ensure complementary actions within national and locally-managed marine
protected areas, fisheries management areas, and fish sanctuaries within municipal waters, and support ecosystem
approach to fisheries management (EAFM) (see Chapter 8). Inventory and monitoring of locally-managed MPAs
and other local coastal resource management (CRM) interventions will be conducted through the Fisheries
Compliance Audit of the DILG.
INCREASING RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES AND THEIR LIVELIHOOD

Expand sustainable livelihood and economic opportunities for resource-dependent and vulnerable communities.
As upland and coastal communities remain among the poorest sectors of society, the development of more sustainable
livelihood and other economic opportunities will be pursued in cooperation with relevant agencies (e.g., DTI, Department of
Social Welfare and Development [DSWD]) to increase their socioeconomic resilience.
• Intensify agroforestry development and establishment of commercial forest plantations. Commercial forest
plantations within integrated forest management agreement (IFMA), community-based forest management
agreements (CBFMAs), and applicable areas in ancestral domains will be developed based on comparative
advantage. There will be investment support packages to encourage diversification especially towards fast-growing
native species that yield high-value timber. Community and family-based agroforestry farms, and related
biodiversity-friendly enterprises will be established. Through these, traditional crop varieties will be cultivated and
products using indigenous materials will be developed, such as eco-friendly personal protective equipment (PPE).
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To ensure sustainability and international competitiveness of the country’s forest-based products, registry and forest
certification systems will be institutionalized.
• Pursue sustainable and resilient fish- and marine-based industries for blue economy development.
Sustainable fish- and marine-based industries4 will be developed and promoted using innovative technologies and
practices and with proper sanitary and safety protocols. Climateresilient post-harvest facilities will be provided to
support value-adding activities in coastal communities. Existing community fish landing centers will be
operationalized by the BFAR to cater to the needs of coastal communities for cold storage and other related support
services. The overall economic contribution of the blue economy will be accounted through the ocean economy
satellite accounts of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
• Develop and promote ecotourism and cultural sites within ecological limits, and sanitary and safety
standards. The following will be pursued: (a) replicate and scale up carrying capacity studies to support the
implementation of ecotourism activities and development of new ecotourism sites; (b) develop ecotourism facilities
and environment-friendly infrastructure, including ecotourism-related products and services to support livelihood of
communities following proper safety and sanitation protocols; (c) conduct risk assessment necessary for developing
health and safety plans and guidelines; and (d) finalize the methodology to account for employment generated from
ecotourism.
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CONCLUSION
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LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY - CAVITE

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, COMPUTER STUDIES, AND ARCHITECTURE

UPDATED PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ([PDP], 2017 – 2022) OF

THE NATIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY

ASSESSMENT AND CHALLENGES

ASSESSMENT AND CHALLENGES

SUSTAINING OPERATIONS AND ACCELERATING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

PROTECTING CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

ASSESSMENT AND CHALLENGES

ASSESSMENT AND CHALLENGES

INCREASING RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES AND THEIR LIVELIHOOD

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